Fijians keen to learn new ideas and skills to lift their football standards: Roberts
Former England and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Darren Roberts is happy with the attitude of Fijians on attachment with Frankston Pine Football Club in Melbourne, Australia.
The Frankston Pine FC assistant coach, who played 13 games for the Wolves in the English Premier League scoring five goals in 1992-94, says the Fijians are keen to learn.
The Multi-Cultural Sports Association based in Victoria in partnership with the Fiji Football Association enabled
Tito Waqa, Savenaca Baleidrokadroka, Peni Tuigulagula and Asaeli Batikasa to team up with Melbourne club last year.
The long term objective is to prepare Fijians for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The pathway was an initiative made possible by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during his visit to Australia last year. “The Fijian boys set a standard on and off the pitch,” Roberts told SUNsports yesterday.
“They can definitely go higher and I enjoy coaching them because they listen, keen to learn and are enjoying themselves.”
Roberts added with the different coaching techniques taught in Fiji, he would work hard in trying to teach the players on playing in a professional environment. “Obviously there’s a massive gap standard-wise.
“They are training well and we still have more to work on.
“I will teach them to be composed, relax rather than panic in front of goal. They need to make the right decision, defend well and there’s a lot to work on with everybody at this level.
“Everybody wants to play fast and furious football which is good but you got to be able to relax when you’re closed down and not panic. Every coaches coach differently and we need to learn from each other. In England we learn from other nations like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Brazil. We learned a lot from international players playing in the Premier League and that has improved English football.
“The Fijians are good and very energetic so will see how they play when competition resumes.
“We will get the boys to align with Coach Kevin Taylor winning mentality. “They played in the reserve grade before the COVID-19 pandemic where Tito, Peni and Save all scored. They would be in our first lineup when the season starts.” Waqa said training and learning has been good so far,
“I’ve learned a lot from Darren and so are my fellow Fijian brothers,” former Nadi striker Waqa said.
“We admire the way they play in Europe and to finally learn how they way is amazing.
“We are learning from the best and we hope to achieve our goals and that is to play in the A-League and set a standard for our brothers and sisters back in Fiji.” Frankston Pines FC play in the State League Division 1 - South East.
The competition
July 12. will resume on
Osea Bola